Farm Health Planning Project
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Farm health planning benefits you by helping prevent disease and improve the performance of your pigs. It's about working closely with your vet and other advisers setting targets for your animals' health and welfare and taking steps to measure, manage and monitor productivity.
A good stockman will recognise when pigs are likely to become sick and take steps to avoid this happening. However, on a busy unit where workloads are constantly changing it is easy for disease prevention plans to be overlooked. There is also the issue of new and ever-evolving diseases that have eroded the competitive position of the commercial pig industry in recent years.
Here is another chance to view the Farmers Weekly Academy article written by Derek Armstrong, BPEX's veterinary surgeon, on Farm Health Planning in the pig sector. Click here to view article.
BPEX, in conjunction with the NPA, secured Defra funding to develop Farm Health Planning further for you. During 07-08 BPEX worked with vets to create and develop existing self-help producer groups that you as a producer can get involved with.
Self-help producer groups
These groups allow you to discuss the health issues relevant to you with your vet and other like-minded producers. For example, a group might decide to focus on one particular disease that is problematic, or take a broader approach to health issues. The subject matter discussed is decided by the group and vet who is facilitating the meetings.
This group approach provides you with access to more veterinary time and other producers knowledge and experiences. The groups will facilitate the following:
- getting an understanding of your current health status
- pooling producer knowledge
- using the herd health plan as an evolving and up to date management tool
- making better use of tools like BPHS and ZNCP
- using funding for diagnostic testing
- utilising existing IT and new IT technology
If this approach to health management interests you and you want to become involved in a group please contact the KT team for more information. For wider information on Farm Health Planning across all livestock sectors, please visit the Defra website.
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